Just been to a&e with DD, constipation

[norksinmywaistband]

DD has had constipation for about a month now, last weekend she had me up all night crying in pain with some overflow as well, finally got her to go Monday morning.
Saw GP and was prescribed 5ml lactulose daily

Repeat performance this weekend, but tonight she was crying, screaming and doubled over in pain - got to a&e and on examination the Dr said he was not even sure if the suppository would work as she was too bunged up and was all ready to admit her.

Thankfully it did work, and she is now sleeping peacefullly in bed.

The dr in A&e has said she is to have 10mls 3x a day of the lactlose - that seems a very high dose compared to what the GP said, but not very aware of these things.

I feel so and with myself for letting her get into this state and not pushing for more help earlier.

Anyone experienced this dose of lactulose??

whoops - dr was happy to give us repeat prescriptions for as long as we needed them.

Gosh if I cut out all dairy, eggs and Weetabix, dd would be living on Fruit and veg only

Did you switch to goats products/ or soya based?

Didn't realise this would be an ongoing problem, had not really considered the recovery phase

Very very good book to read. Here Most libraries have it too.

I agree with the other posters-Movicol and lots and lots of fluid and NO dairy for a while.

It has worked wonders for ds whose had years of suffering.

Good site for info

OH I really feel for you. DS2 has had poo issues since birth and he is three next month and it still rears its ugly head.

We used a lot of lactelose to get him moving, but he also had an underlying issue of having a small anus, so the poo kept ripping his bum, thankfully this was diagnosed at 4 weeks old and I manually dialated his bumb (dont ask) for the next 18 months.

It is essential to have lots of fluids and fruit and fibre too. A balanced diet really works for DS2. He can only really have 1 bananna every couple of days and wheatabix if it has been soaked in warm milk (his fav)

A warm bath is often very soothing as it popping a hot water bottle on their tummy. Using oil to massage in circular clockwise motions round the tummy button and also making poo something not to be scared or hush hush about.

We were told that we would need to ensure that DS doesnt get constipation on a regular basis or it would effect his muscles for life and cause other issues, so I am somewhat anal {pardon the pun)about it.

He is three next month and still not out of nappies as the poo is an issue for him.

Movicol worked too well and he was far to runny, we struggled to find the right balance.

It is important to keep it in check as witholding becomes a phycological issue with major impact. Good look.

Oh and prunes, prune juice, rubard and liqorice really keep things moving too

Milk never made a differnce for DS2, we had to keep a food diary when we were weaning for this reason.

We were told that as long as the wheatabix is wet it was fine to give!!

We switched to soya milk and products of which there is a surprisingly large array! At home, the only thing she misses is cheese (well, pizzas really). Can be slightly harder work out and about, but certainly not as hard as we thought it would be.

And yes, agree with other posters that even when things work, allowing a new diet to work and wean off the laxatives takes several weeks rather than days - but they are soooooo much happier afterwards!

It sounds very likely to be an emotional thing. It is about control. That is not to say that it is a concious thing at all. In any case, the retraining of the bowel is very important and will take time, and she may need help with the emotional issues around your separation. I am sure it is connected, but it is good to be aware - now you have insight into the possible causes, it will be easier to support her.

Just wanted to add in the little ones that having it - the hospital diagnosed (eventually) my DD as having lactose intolerance (usually causes the opposite effect) - now been on lactose free forumula and diet since 3 months and no problems at all!

we are now using the lactofree milk and cheese which she is fine with!

My daughter is 4. She had flu like symptoms last weekend and as a result had a difficult poo on Sunday which I had to help on its way. She's not been since. She is obviously in some pain but seems frightened to go. doc has prescribed 2 x 5ml lactulose until she goes and the only way we can get her to take it is in her juice. We are supposed to be taking her to disney on Wednesday - this is the first time she has ever been constipated but it's horrible watching her suffer and refusing to push because she doesn't like the pain. Any suggestions gratefully received.

a natural laxative is fresh pineapple,so if they will eat or drink it that will help too. But movicol paediatric sachets are brilliant and work for impacted faeces

My DD suffers periodically with constipation and is finally getting over it now at 4 1/2. Its a long term condition, but the temptation is that once the train is out of the tunnel so to speak you offer a prayer and try to move on. Sadly, that doesn't seem to work.
Long term medication, whatever the medically qualified suggest, under a consultant if you have the energy to complain, is really important. Although my daughter's constipation is going , she will be on 5ml lactulose a day for the next year to ensure it really does go. That's on top of what she's had to date.
Plus time and patience (yup, those two) do help: encourage them to try and stay on the loo a bit longer - not everyone's got the tummy strength to push that well. But not to strain. And no-one can poo if they're stressed. Those with OCD about cleanliness will be appalled but I let mine read / play / whatever it takes on the loo.
Those who ask you whether they eat enough fruit and veg deserve whatever withering comment you can throw at them!

Norks - DD has suffered with constipatin since beginning of November, we ended up in A&E as well. She is currently on 2.5mls Senocot as well as 15ml and then a 20ml dose of Lactulose, she has been on this since beginning of December (the Senocot for 2 weeks) we are currntly and under DR's supervision slowly reducing the dosage but she is ppoing little and often instead of the once a day that she used to. We are now being referred to a Paediatrician, push for that aswell as I regret not doing it sooner. As a consequence of the little and often she has also regressed completely in her toilet training and is now back in nappies. Good luck.

I also agree with the control.

Ava had chronic constipation from birth, we treid everything to start with preboiled water, cycling legs, baby massage under supervision nothing worked then HE said give her brown sugar and water which we did and all that ahppend was ava screamed the place down still severely constipated, we took her to the doc who went mad when we mentioned the brown sugar and told us sternly DO NOT do that again!!
Ava was then givne 5ml x3 times daily o by the way ava was 5 weeks old.
this ended in utter chaos baby was screaming and everything was running out of her and we could not keep her hydrated on contacting A and E they advised us that baby had had a lactulose overdose!!! and should go to a and e, which we dully did . we were advised to take her home give her normal feeds with precooled water feeds in between to flush the lactulose from her system needless to say it took a full week before ava was no longer in pain so please beware the usage of lactulose in tiny babies.